Antsquare launches app to bridge the gap between buying local and online shopping

Heather Fernandez /
August 26, 2015

Today, Pacific Northwest startup Antsquare launched their interactive community marketplace app that will transform the average neighborhood into a true marketplace, allowing users to discover and purchase local products and services right in their own back yard. The Antsquare mobile app supports local community and economy, without sacrificing the convenience of e-commerce. Antsquare represents the next generation of local and digital retail, delivered at a time when both the ‘buy-local’ movement and popularity of online shopping are at an all-time high.

For sellers, who range from local artisans to small businesses, the Antsquare platform functions as a unique, mobile shop that allows merchants to avoid shipping costs and logistics and as a result connect with their customers face to face. For buyers, Antsquare facilitates discovery of products and services based on a buyer’s preferences and location. Purchases are made through ‘meet-ups’ with the seller and all transactions are safely processed through the app. Shoppers have the ability to inspect their goods before deciding to purchase and shop in their own neighbourhood, all while feeling good about the impact of their purchasing habits on their local community.

Founded and backed by Vancouver, British Columbia investor Daniel Ling, and powered by an impressive team of product, developer and marketing talent, Antsquare has set about to create a community marketplace, that encourages people to shop from a large and unified community of independent businesses. “Launching Antsquare represents our effort to deliver the best of both shopping worlds — the convenience of online purchasing along with access to local finds, said Antsquare company spokesperson Alex Volney. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between online and offline sales, stimulate the local economy, promote entrepreneurship, and remove barriers for local artisans to break into the market.”

Antsquare features and functionality includes:

Ability to browse for products or services using map and location tracking

Antsquare is available for free in the app store (Apple and Android compatible) and is currently established in both Vancouver and Seattle, with over 150 merchant stores already listing products and services for sale. To launch, the company will be hosting a series of events, marketplaces and campaigns to connect buyers and sellers and introduce this new shopping experience. Additional investment and North American expansion are slated for early 2016.

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About Antsquare

Founded in early 2014 in Vancouver, BC, Canada with offices in Seattle, WA, USA, Antsquare is a community marketplace that gives users access to products and services in their neighborhood they didn’t even know exist. Antsquare makes it possible to shop local, support the economy in your own community, and avoid the hassle of online shopping in a safe and secure way.